Nicole Ritchie Opens Playground for Homeless Kids

by Shannon Moriarty · 2009-10-24 05:07:00 UTC
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On Thursday, Nicole Richie and Joel Madden broke ground on a playground for homeless children in downtown Los Angeles.

The playground will be situated near Broadway Village II, a 50-unit service-enriched affordable housing complex for very low-income families. The project is part of a larger neighborhood revitalization effort aiming to address the shortage of adequate housing and social services in the area. Richie and Madden have been raising money for the project for over a year, according to the blog Hollyscoop. "When I found out the kids play on a concrete slab or play inside all day, it hit me," said Richie. "Kids need to have an imagination, to be outside and to be free."

I love projects like this. So often, in the flurry to create housing and meet the financial, hunger, and housing needs of homeless families we forget something important: kids are kids. And they need safe places to play and be kids.

It's refreshing to see reality starts and musicians embark on a selfless endeavor. This is one trend that I hope catches on.

Shannon Moriarty has worked in various homeless shelters and service organizations around the country. She is a graduate student studying housing and urban policy at Tufts University.
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